D.E. FILTRATION FOR HEAVY FEEDING. FISH & NPS CORALS

AI Hydra
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Deltec
hart24601 said:
Out of curiosity which aquariums are using them instead of skimmers and on which exhibits?

I remember DE does filter down quite small, but as regular filters start to clog they filter smaller and smaller, I wonder what effective filter size a 10 or even 50 micron roll would capture - the thing I think about is whether it's more important to capture and hold the items in the filter for a few weeks or have them removed from the water totally like a filter roll would. I there a reason you prefer DE to UV?

Either way it will be fun to see what you come up with!
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You mentioned regular filters with time filter smaller micron, true but you sacrifice filtration efficiency and water perimeter. D.E. gets more efficient with every pass. You can determine when to clean it. Long before creatures and water perimeters effected.
 
I keep mine in a 5 gallon bucket. I can move it around. The powder doesn't fall off the bag unless I bump it pretty good. Even then it just sucks it back in when I start it.
I am charging it right now. I am going to make a mess in my tank and then suck it all out.

I can carry it from the fish room where the slop sink is to the tank.
 
There's a diatom filter XL in Craigslist, Newport Beach California $100
Eventually going with this model Hayward ec40ac

This is a monster D.E. filter, Hayward EC40AC

81jRjVm1nNL._SY606_.jpg
 
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Jomama said:
What does a sprinkler valve,solenoid valves,relays,water regulator, dosing pump 4 head(programmable) , whole house canister filter clear type(200 or less tank),D.E. pool filter(300+ tanks, optional),Eheim pump 1800 gph(for 200 or less tank) have in common? Follow along.

It's well known that diatom filtration can filter down to half a micron and remove some or all bacteria in the water column. Some aquarium institutions don't even bother using a skimmer if opting for D.E. filtration. Better than pleaded canister filters. Drawback of D.E. filtration is if pump stops flowing then filter media will fall off. I've figured a way by diverting water flow using inexpensive components you can buy at Home Depot or Internet.

Here's how it will operate. Using a programmable 4 head dosing pump. Will use two pumps #1 will power the solenoid valves(divert D.E. flow), and #2 for feeding the display tank. #1 dosing pump will divert D.E. filtration system anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes you program it. Then #2 dosing pump will start after #1 pump begins, could be 2- 5 minutes, whatever you like to program it to. This filtration system maybe a good start to keeping NPS corals and especially NPS softies. We hope.



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Having issues downloading pictures
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I'm interested to see what you put together. I'll be following this. Thanks for posting it.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
I have used one on and off for 30 years. I have had 3 different kinds. It is simply a very efficient and effective mechanical filtration device.

It has all of the drawbacks of a canister filter.It is easier to change the filter media than a canister filter though.

If you want to stir up your tank and suck the goo out or polish your water there is nothing like one.
It is not and hasen't been something I use every day. More like every few months when I deep clean the tank and stir up the sand.
 
Jomama said:
There's a diatom filter XL in Craigslist, Newport Beach California $100
Eventually going with this model Hayward ec40ac

This is a monster D.E. filter

81jRjVm1nNL._SY606_.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks like its probably for a spa or small pool. Most likely have a round filter inside. I'd be interested not as a full time filter but something to hook up and run for a few hours.
 
I think I'll build one also. Thinking about something on wheels I store in my garage, bring it in every so often and let it turn over the tank a few times.
 
View ReefStash's latest YouTube video!
All of the DE filters I have used have the media on the suction side of the pump. The pump starts cavitating as the media plugs and you get showers of microbubbles.
Not a problem with something you only use intermittently.
 
I may be wrong, but wouldn't all the uneaten food start breaking down and cause high nutrient effluent from the DE filter? Maybe the interval at which you'd have to change would or wouldn't be time and cost effective.
 
Robin Haselden said:
I may be wrong, but wouldn't all the uneaten food start breaking down and cause high nutrient effluent from the DE filter? Maybe the interval at which you'd have to change would or wouldn't be time and cost effective.
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DE is super cheap. I would just run the filter for about 30 min turn over the water a few times. Clean DE filter and fill it back up. I'm thinking it would be like a once a week thing. Or maybe even an hour every week. Could even put a pre filtration sponge on the intake line to catch the bigger debris
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
BadFish619 said:
DE is super cheap. I would just run the filter for about 30 min turn over the water a few times. Clean DE filter and fill it back up. I'm thinking it would be like a once a week thing. Or maybe even an hour every week. Could even put a pre filtration sponge on the intake line to catch the bigger debris
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Yes, I like sponge filter on suction hose end. Because I'm using a whole house water canister filter there's a trick to charging filter again and I've been trying to figure out a pre-filter, at intake of suction would be perfect, it can be removed easy when it needs to be cleaned or just removed. Thanks, comrade

Here's food for thought

https://web.archive.org/web/2015070...articles/management/Lawler_Diatomfilters.html

Remember the sprinkler valve is mentioned, here it is modified. I've tested for months in early 2018, works flawlessly.

here's the sprinkler valve I modified it to be controlled by water through a quarter inch tube or air. Where I'm setting up the new 46 gallon tank there's a hose bib next to it so I'll use the pressure of the water, open and close by the solenoid valves to control this valve.

20190530_101630.jpg
 
Heres whole house canister filter converted for D.E. filtration I just ordered a clear housing so I can see when the time comes to charge filter. And the Eheim pump(1800 GPH) connected to it, so discharge of pump goes into water canister filter. It's 24" tall, big. Easier to charge filter.

20190530_101637.jpg


20190530_101643.jpg
 
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BadFish619 said:
Looks like its probably for a spa or small pool. Most likely have a round filter inside. I'd be interested not as a full time filter but something to hook up and run for a few hours.
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Yes for pools, some members here use 4600 gph pump. I'm going for 1800 gph when I plan using. Very easy to charge. You can go with 10" whole house water filter. Like picture but smaller . Always clear plastic, see it charge

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Top Shelf Aquatics
BadFish619 said:
DE is super cheap. I would just run the filter for about 30 min turn over the water a few times. Clean DE filter and fill it back up. I'm thinking it would be like a once a week thing. Or maybe even an hour every week. Could even put a pre filtration sponge on the intake line to catch the bigger debris
Click to expand...
I will be heavy feeding, 24/7 every hour, apprx. But for fish, perfect schedule, I think.
Thanks for commenting, comrade

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Got this 1 month ago
 
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hart24601 said:
Just spitballing idea but wouldn't a low micron automatic filter roll work better since they advance and remove the waste from the water column quite quickly? I imagine you could DIY one without too much trouble.
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It probably would work, but it might be expensive to run. I run 10 micron in a diy roller filter to catch lanthanum chloride, and I also automatically dose refrigerated food for NPS corals. 10 micron is a lot coarser than .5, and I have a heck of a time cleaning the stuff- I have to change the filter every 3 weeks and it takes about 3 cycles of the washer and a couple bottles of hydrogen peroxide to come up clean. I imagine a .5 micron roll filter would be way harder, and the material is too expensive for me to throw out. Coolant filter paper is cheap enough to use once, but I think it is only sold down to 5 microns. An automated diatom filter might be easier if you really need to filter down to .5 microns. I was thinking of setting up a automated sand filter if I get a truly huge tank, but this might be a good alternative. Cool idea if nothing else- I'm watching.
 
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